Winterizing a 4.3l Merc
 

I have a 4.3L Mercruiser (bought in 2003). I was removing the drain plugs
but could not find one of the plugs.

I found the one on the pump hose, the starboard side exhaust manifold, the
port side exhaust manifold and one on the port side of the block. I found 4
altogether. The manual says there are 5. However, I did find a hole at
the bottom of the block on the port(ish) side that did not have a plug in
it. When I attempted to put one of the other plugs in, it fit perfectly.

I did notice my boat was taking on water (unexpected water) during the
season. I did not notice my bilge pump working unessesarily. I trailered
my boat every time out and usually had several inches of water in the bilge.
It seemed to be clean water.

My questions are these:

1) Did I miss the plug altogether? If so, can you give me a way to find
each one of them (mainly the non-visible ones from the top of the engine)
I'll have to go back in and drain it before the freezing sets in.
2) If this hole in the bottom of the block is actually the drain plug hole,
how did I not notice a huge build up of water in my bilge? Could the bilge
pump keep up with the output of the drain plug?

I hope I figure it out before winter comes!

Mike

Winterizing a 4.3l Merc
 

Would seem if you have a plug missing and ran the motor with earmuffs on (to
supply water) a leak would show up pretty quick and you'd see where the
water is coming from. If it was something as big as a plug missing,
however, i'd expect the bilge to get pretty wet pretty quick and your pump
running more than you'd expect.


SL

Winterizing a 4.3l Merc
 

I take it you cant get an eyeball on that part of the engine. The plug you
are looking for is about 2 inches from the blind tapped hole that you put
the plug in.
"Mikhael" wrote in message
.. .
I have a 4.3L Mercruiser (bought in 2003). I was removing the drain plugs
but could not find one of the plugs.

I found the one on the pump hose, the starboard side exhaust manifold, the
port side exhaust manifold and one on the port side of the block. I found
4
altogether. The manual says there are 5. However, I did find a hole at
the bottom of the block on the port(ish) side that did not have a plug in
it. When I attempted to put one of the other plugs in, it fit perfectly.

I did notice my boat was taking on water (unexpected water) during the
season. I did not notice my bilge pump working unessesarily. I trailered
my boat every time out and usually had several inches of water in the
bilge.
It seemed to be clean water.

My questions are these:

1) Did I miss the plug altogether? If so, can you give me a way to find
each one of them (mainly the non-visible ones from the top of the engine)
I'll have to go back in and drain it before the freezing sets in.
2) If this hole in the bottom of the block is actually the drain plug
hole,
how did I not notice a huge build up of water in my bilge? Could the bilge
pump keep up with the output of the drain plug?

I hope I figure it out before winter comes!

Mike

Winterizing a 4.3l Merc
 

Thanks... I'll take a look this weekend, I have to tear the whole boat apart
again... giggle..

Mike
".JIMinMA." wrote in message
...
I take it you cant get an eyeball on that part of the engine. The plug you
are looking for is about 2 inches from the blind tapped hole that you put
the plug in.
"Mikhael" wrote in message
.. .
I have a 4.3L Mercruiser (bought in 2003). I was removing the drain
plugs
but could not find one of the plugs.

I found the one on the pump hose, the starboard side exhaust manifold,
the
port side exhaust manifold and one on the port side of the block. I
found
4
altogether. The manual says there are 5. However, I did find a hole
at
the bottom of the block on the port(ish) side that did not have a plug
in
it. When I attempted to put one of the other plugs in, it fit
perfectly.

I did notice my boat was taking on water (unexpected water) during the
season. I did not notice my bilge pump working unessesarily. I
trailered
my boat every time out and usually had several inches of water in the
bilge.
It seemed to be clean water.

My questions are these:

1) Did I miss the plug altogether? If so, can you give me a way to find
each one of them (mainly the non-visible ones from the top of the
engine)
I'll have to go back in and drain it before the freezing sets in.
2) If this hole in the bottom of the block is actually the drain plug
hole,
how did I not notice a huge build up of water in my bilge? Could the
bilge
pump keep up with the output of the drain plug?

I hope I figure it out before winter comes!

Mike

Winterizing a 4.3l Merc
 

Arrg, still can't find this damn plug... LOL.. What a pain in the ass, I
think it's a phantom plug!

I took out the two exhaust manifold plugs, the plug on the water pump, and a
plug on the port side of the block. Am I missing one?? I will scan the
images in the manual and post them (or put a link to them) tomorrow. This
is driving me nuts!

Is there 4 or 5 drain plugs in a modern (2003) 4.3l carbed engine? I have
only found 4 so far.

Mike

"Mikhael" wrote in message
.. .
I have a 4.3L Mercruiser (bought in 2003). I was removing the drain plugs
but could not find one of the plugs.

I found the one on the pump hose, the starboard side exhaust manifold, the
port side exhaust manifold and one on the port side of the block. I found
4
altogether. The manual says there are 5. However, I did find a hole at
the bottom of the block on the port(ish) side that did not have a plug in
it. When I attempted to put one of the other plugs in, it fit perfectly.

I did notice my boat was taking on water (unexpected water) during the
season. I did not notice my bilge pump working unessesarily. I trailered
my boat every time out and usually had several inches of water in the
bilge.
It seemed to be clean water.

My questions are these:

1) Did I miss the plug altogether? If so, can you give me a way to find
each one of them (mainly the non-visible ones from the top of the engine)
I'll have to go back in and drain it before the freezing sets in.
2) If this hole in the bottom of the block is actually the drain plug
hole,
how did I not notice a huge build up of water in my bilge? Could the bilge
pump keep up with the output of the drain plug?

I hope I figure it out before winter comes!

Mike

Winterizing a 4.3l Merc
 

Did u find one on the Starboard side of the block, it is probably at the
same possition as the port side just opposite sides, I don't know I don't
have a 4.3 l.But I imagine this is a V6 cylinder. My motor is a v8 but I
imagine u would have to have one on the other side, PS: I would be extra
safe and put the plugs back in run some anti-toxic antifreeze thru the block
and drain it. Make sure the block is warm so the themostate is open before u
start to run the antifreeze, or it won't go in.I froze my motor last winter,
thank god the core plugs went and not the motor. GL
"Mikhael" wrote in message
. ..
Arrg, still can't find this damn plug... LOL.. What a pain in the ass, I
think it's a phantom plug!

I took out the two exhaust manifold plugs, the plug on the water pump, and
a
plug on the port side of the block. Am I missing one?? I will scan the
images in the manual and post them (or put a link to them) tomorrow. This
is driving me nuts!

Is there 4 or 5 drain plugs in a modern (2003) 4.3l carbed engine? I have
only found 4 so far.

Mike

"Mikhael" wrote in message
.. .
I have a 4.3L Mercruiser (bought in 2003). I was removing the drain
plugs
but could not find one of the plugs.

I found the one on the pump hose, the starboard side exhaust manifold,
the
port side exhaust manifold and one on the port side of the block. I
found
4
altogether. The manual says there are 5. However, I did find a hole
at
the bottom of the block on the port(ish) side that did not have a plug
in
it. When I attempted to put one of the other plugs in, it fit
perfectly.

I did notice my boat was taking on water (unexpected water) during the
season. I did not notice my bilge pump working unessesarily. I
trailered
my boat every time out and usually had several inches of water in the
bilge.
It seemed to be clean water.

My questions are these:

1) Did I miss the plug altogether? If so, can you give me a way to find
each one of them (mainly the non-visible ones from the top of the
engine)
I'll have to go back in and drain it before the freezing sets in.
2) If this hole in the bottom of the block is actually the drain plug
hole,
how did I not notice a huge build up of water in my bilge? Could the
bilge
pump keep up with the output of the drain plug?

I hope I figure it out before winter comes!

Mike

Winterizing a 4.3l Merc
 

I removed the thermostat when I drained it. I think you are right about the
starboard side block plug, I may have gotten my diagrams mixed up. I was
expecting 3 on the port side, 2 on the starboard when it's the other way
round.

I will check tonite.

Mike

"Wildest Dream" wrote in message
. net...
Did u find one on the Starboard side of the block, it is probably at the
same possition as the port side just opposite sides, I don't know I don't
have a 4.3 l.But I imagine this is a V6 cylinder. My motor is a v8 but I
imagine u would have to have one on the other side, PS: I would be extra
safe and put the plugs back in run some anti-toxic antifreeze thru the
block
and drain it. Make sure the block is warm so the themostate is open before
u
start to run the antifreeze, or it won't go in.I froze my motor last
winter,
thank god the core plugs went and not the motor. GL
"Mikhael" wrote in message
. ..
Arrg, still can't find this damn plug... LOL.. What a pain in the ass, I
think it's a phantom plug!

I took out the two exhaust manifold plugs, the plug on the water pump,
and
a
plug on the port side of the block. Am I missing one?? I will scan
the
images in the manual and post them (or put a link to them) tomorrow.
This
is driving me nuts!

Is there 4 or 5 drain plugs in a modern (2003) 4.3l carbed engine? I
have
only found 4 so far.

Mike

"Mikhael" wrote in message
.. .
I have a 4.3L Mercruiser (bought in 2003). I was removing the drain
plugs
but could not find one of the plugs.

I found the one on the pump hose, the starboard side exhaust manifold,
the
port side exhaust manifold and one on the port side of the block. I
found
4
altogether. The manual says there are 5. However, I did find a hole
at
the bottom of the block on the port(ish) side that did not have a plug
in
it. When I attempted to put one of the other plugs in, it fit
perfectly.

I did notice my boat was taking on water (unexpected water) during the
season. I did not notice my bilge pump working unessesarily. I
trailered
my boat every time out and usually had several inches of water in the
bilge.
It seemed to be clean water.

My questions are these:

1) Did I miss the plug altogether? If so, can you give me a way to
find
each one of them (mainly the non-visible ones from the top of the
engine)
I'll have to go back in and drain it before the freezing sets in.
2) If this hole in the bottom of the block is actually the drain plug
hole,
how did I not notice a huge build up of water in my bilge? Could the
bilge
pump keep up with the output of the drain plug?

I hope I figure it out before winter comes!

Mike